Traditional Hot Rod Event - It's A Revolution

It all got started in 2006 when Keith Tardel at Rex Rods & Chassis in Santa Rosa, California, decided to create a totally traditional hot rod event. The first gathering saw about 120 all-pre-'48 traditional cars, and the location was a little park in Penngrove close to Santa Rosa. Both Keith and his father, Vern, are well-known for building neat traditional Flathead-powered hot rods. Both have plenty of friends and customers in the area, many of whom are diehard hot rodders who will get in their hot rods even if the weather is not so great. This turned out to be a good thing, as that Saturday morning in late September was colder than normal and raining.

It wasn't a good day for a hot rod event, but the rain was gone by 11 a.m. when they opened the gates. Cars rolled in, and as expected, more than half were Flathead-powered. Keith stood at the gate welcoming everyone and sharing a few words with the hot rodders as they rolled in. A live band called Little Sister entertained all afternoon, and food was also available, but the main purpose was to meet people and check out all the traditional cars.